Product Description

The Masters Course

This video goes beyond mere lecture and simple demonstration. It offers a theory. It tests that theory through live and videotaped performances. It examines that theory with probing analysis and the greatest care. This video demonstrates the techniques of opening, direct, cross and summation, and pulls them together into a systematic strategy for WINNING!

Click below to view an excerpt from: Trying Cases to Win, The Masters Course that discusses the Rule of Probability.

A Partial List of Key Points Covered:

Principles of opening

Order of opening

How to construct an opening

How to protect against your adversary's best arguments

The four levels of advocacy

How to make provisions against opening arguments

Planning the Plaintiff's opening

Use of whiteboards and exhibits to make testimony memorable

"Rule of Probability" and its critical importance to the jury

Attacking the credibility of your oponent

Highlights:

Thethousands of experienced trial lawyers who have heard Herbert J. Stern lecture or read his books agree that he is the finest teacher of trial advocacy in the United States. It is fitting that he would now tackle the best, most used case file ever developed,Dixon v. Prudential Life Insurance Co.* In order to win this case, the trial lawyer must use the highest skills. Throughout this riveting presentation Stern proves that the trial lawyer's skill does make the difference between winning and losing. Stern takes the viewer through the case and coldly analyzes what does and does not work by critiquing demonstrations from such distinguished trial lawyers as: Robert Hanley, Benjamin Civiletti, James St. Clair, Judah Best, Bruce Goldstein, Herb Stern and others.

This is a widely used case file in Trial Advocacy programs and law schools.

* (c) by National Institute for Trial Advocacy

Detailed Course Outline

DISK 1

Introduction: Overview of program

Principles of opening

On direct and cross-examination, argue your case through the witness to the jury

Review of case file

Commit yourself on opening

Order of opening – burden of proof

Primacy

Video Deomonstration: Opening for Plaintiff by Robert Hanley

Critique of Robert Hanley opening

Strengths and weaknesses of opening

The four levels of advocacy

How to construct and opening statement - Analysis of plaintiff's case

Review the testimony of all witnesses - Analysis of cross-examination of Sheriff Webb